Racing: Oh, So Close

Holding your own in a close finish

Close finishes in road races seem to be cropping up with ever-increasing frequency, at least among the top finishers in major events. Indeed, the longest major road race distance, the marathon, has seen an unusual number of close finishes within the past 18 months, as Paul Tergat beat Hendrick Ramaala by three-tenths of a second at the 2005 ING New York City Marathon; Felix Limo defeated Martin Lel in London last spring by just two seconds, 2:06:39 to 2:06:41, and Robert Cheruiyot (2:07:35) edged Daniel Njenga (2:07:40) in Chicago in October by five seconds. The women’s race in Chicago was also close, with Berhane Adere outlasting Galina Bogolomova, 2:20:42 to 2:20:47.

In another close marathon finish in 2006, the California International Marathon was won by Jonathan Ndambuki of Kenya in 2:14:58, with Kassahun Kabiso of Ethiopia just one second back, in 2:14:59. The race was decided just 30 yards from the finish line, when Ndambuki won with a final furious sprint.

What tools does a road racer need to hold his/her own in a close finish? Of course, event-specific training is crucial — though Tergat, Ramaala, and others say that sprint speed won’t win a close marathon; rather, it’s endurance-speed, honed through long intervals and tempo runs, that is the main ingredient.

Another crucial element going into a race where a close finish is anticipated is rest. Mike Barnow, Kabiso’s coach, speculates that his athlete might have been even stronger at Cal International had he not raced a hot and hilly half marathon in Puerto Rico the weekend before. "Kassahun had done this race in the past, and was invited back this year. He didn’t want to miss it and thought he’d recover enough for the California marathon," explained Barnow. Most likely, resting or running easy that weekend would have given Kabiso fresher legs in Sacramento.

"Runners have to learn to make sacrifices, and he’s still learning," Barnow said.

Though he is only 23, Kabiso has been running marathons at the world-class level since age 17. The New York City resident is known for his aggressive front-running style and fierce tenacity. "Kassahun is fearless," said Barnow.

Though Kabiso had suffered a hamstring injury earlier in 2006, he entered Cal International believing he could and would win and break his 2:15:40 PR. "I was leading the whole way," he said. "I always thought I would win the race."

Though Kabiso did "lose" the race in the final stages, he does not dwell on the defeat. "I am happy for him," he said of Ndambuki. "He was very strong." He recovered quickly from Cal International and within weeks was preparing for his next marathon.

"These [close] races are a part of running," he said. "When they happen, I am ready for them, and when they do not go my way, I am not disappointed."